"Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and, by studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective."†

óBill Clinton, former President, United States of America.

The benefits conveyed by music education can be grouped in four
categories:

Success in society

Success in school

Success in Developing Intelligence

Success in life

Success in society

Music is a part of the fabric of our society. The intrinsic
value of music for each individual is widely recognized in the many
cultures that make up American life - indeed, every human culture
uses music to carry forward its ideas and ideals.

Better Citizens : Music is a magical gift we must nourish
and cultivate in our children, especially now as scientific evidence
proves that an education in the arts makes better math and science
students, enhances spatial intelligence in newborns and music is a
compelling solution to teen violence. The very best engineers and technical designers in the Silicon
Valley industry are practicing musicians.

Friendships: Music study provides opportunities for
interaction with peers to establish new friendships

Success in school

Diligence: Studying music encourages self-discipline and diligence, traits
that carry over into intellectual pursuits and that lead to effective study and
work habits. An association of music and math has, in fact, long been noted.
Creating and performing music promotes self-expression and provides
self-gratification while giving pleasure to others.

Discipline of music study - particularly through participation in
ensembles - helps students learn to work effectively in the school
environment without resorting to violent or inappropriate behavior.
and music is a compelling solution to teen violence.

Perseverance and Commitment: The demands of piano
study teach children to develop a commitment to projects and
follow them through to completion

Concentration: The study of piano fosters
concentration that can carry over into learning other
subjects.

Pride in Achievement: Students develop a sense of pride in their
abilities through musical achievements

researchers found that students who report consistent high levels
of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school
years show significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by
grade 12.Students with coursework/experience in music
performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT.

Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988
showed that music participants received more academic honors and
awards than non-music students, and that the percentage of music
participants receiving As, As/Bs, and Bs was higher than the
percentage of non- participants receiving those grades

Success in Developing Intelligence

Coordination: The coordination of both small and large muscles is strengthened
through piano playing.

Creativity: Music study provides a
forum for communicating feelings and using imagination for creative
endeavors.

compared to non-musicians, the brains of pianists are more
efficient at making skilled movements. These findings show that
musical training can enhance brain function.

Researchers found that children given piano lessons significantly
improved in their spatial- temporal IQ scores (important for some
types of mathematical reasoning) compared to children who received
computer lessons, casual singing, or no lessons.

Study found that pattern recognition and mental representation
scores improved significantly for students given piano instruction
over a three-year period. They also found that self-esteem and
musical skills measures improved for the students given piano
instruction.

The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone,
style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling--training the brain to become
incredibly good at organizing and conducting numerous activities at
once.

Success in life

Self-Esteem: As musical skills
are developed, students feel a strong sense of satisfaction
in their progress and develop a feeling of self-esteem that
transfers to other situations in life.

Confidence: Frequent performance helps
the child develop confidence and poise that will be useful
in dealing with many situations in life.

Fun and Relaxation: Playing piano and listening
to music is fun. This skill can provide hours of
entertainment and relaxation throughout one's entire life.

Music is one way for young people to connect with themselves, but
it is also a bridge for connecting with others. Through music, we
can introduce children to the richness and diversity of the human
family and to the myriad rhythms of life.

Music making makes the elderly healthier.... There were
significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and loneliness
following keyboard lessons. These are factors that are critical in
coping with stress, stimulating the immune system, and in improved
health. Results also show significant increases in human growth
hormones following the same group keyboard lessons.